Our Correspondent / PATNA
The Nitish Kumar government in Bihar which was earlier blamed for giving innumerable licenses for opening liquor shops in the state, finally imposed a total ban on sale and consumption of all kinds of liquors in the state from today.
This decision was taken by the state cabinet which was chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Later talking to media Nitish Kumar said, earlier the government has taken decision to ban country made liquor in the state from 1st April.
With the ban, Bihar is set to lose a huge revenue of over Rs 40 billion every year but the government is hardly bothered. “For us, a healthy and peaceful society is more important than earning revenues,” says a beaming Chief Minister Nisitsh Kumar.
With the ban order coming into force with immediate effect, Bihar becomes the fourth state in the country after Gujarat, Nagaland and Mizoram to go totally dry.
From now on, no any variety of liquor will be available anywhere in Bihar, including hotels, bars and clubs. However, the Army canteens in the state will continue to sell alcohol as earlier.
The blanket ban on liquor comes barely four days after the government enforced partial ban by banning sale and consumption of country made and spiced liquor but allowing the Indian Made Foreign Liquor to be sold from some outlets in the town areas.
“We were forced to impose total ban on manufacturing, sale and consumption of liquor after seeing the huge protests by the masses, especially women folk, not even allowing the foreign liquor to be sold and shutting down their shops at some places,” CM said
Total ban on liquor has come as a social revolution in the state.
“I can’t express my feelings while implementing the total ban. Now, I am sure the money being spent on purchase of liquor will be spent used for proper upkeep, education and health of the family members,” Kumar added.